Nightfall

Nightfall – Suspense Drama with Noir Flair. Who would have expected a film that runs for under 80mins to have such ‘A grade’ credentials? Nightfall is such a movie. With credits starting with Ted Richmond and Tyrone Power’s Production Company, it then boasts Jacques Tourneur as director (Out of the Past ’49). Then comes the top-flight cast; Aldo Ray, Brian Keith, and a lovely, youthful Anne Bancroft, supported by well-known character players. Now add cinematography by the great Burnett Guffey (All the Kings Men ’49 etc, etc), a screenplay by Stirling Silliphant (Charlie ’69) based on David Goodi’s robust novel. It has the earmarks of a film intended as a main feature that, for some reason, ended up being a support for a double-feature bill - it also keeps the viewer engaged with a series of compelling, tense situations. While there are a couple of strange plot gaps, it flows at such a pace these can be somewhat overlooked. Lovers of fifties noir dramas won’t be too disappointed with this quite rare offering, and Ray does well as the everyman thrown in at the deep end, hiding out for his life.